These Old Shades - Georgette Heyer

These Old Shades

By Georgette Heyer

  • Release Date: 2009-10-01
  • Genre: Historical Romance
Score: 4.5
4.5
From 110 Ratings

Description

"Heyer was one of the great protagonists of the historical novel in the post-war golden age…" —Philippa Gregory

Considered the book that launched Gerogette Heyer's career, These Old Shades features two of Heyer's most memorable characters: Justin Alastair, the Duke of Avon, and Leonie, whom he rescues from a life of ignominy and comes to love and marry.

The Duke is known for his coldness of manner, his remarkable omniscience, and his debauched lifestyle. Late one evening, he is accosted by a young person dressed in ragged boy's clothing running away from a brutal rustic guardian. The Duke buys "Leon" and makes the child his page. "Leon" is in fact Leonie, and she serves the Duke with deep devotion. When he uncovers the true story of her birth, he wreaks an unforgettable revenge on her sinister father in a chilling scene of public humiliation.

PRAISE FOR GEORGETTE HEYER:

"Our Georgette Heyer display of the Sourcebooks reprints has been a huge success, not only to those early fans like myself, but to many new readers who appreciate her style and wit."

Nancy Olson, Quail Ridge Books, Raleigh, NC

"Reading Georgette Heyer is the next best thing to reading Jane Austen."

Publishers Weekly

"Wonderful characters, elegant, witty writing, perfect period detail, and rapturously romantic. Georgette Heyer achieves what the rest of us only aspire to."

Katie Fforde

"Absolute monarch of the Regency romance."

Kirkus Reviews

Reviews

  • These Old Shades

    5
    By FlossieFluShoes
    Elegant charming and very witty. This is a romantic adventure with some suspense. G rated and fun.
  • By far, Heyer's worst heroine...

    1
    By keroberus
    If I could give it no stars I would. This heroine holds no independent thought and from the beginning adores her hero, following him around like a tireless puppy. Leads to a rather one-sided romance that is not only painful to read it is so foreseeable. She's insipid and thoughtless and a total child. Her French accent is irritating at best and through the first seven chapters I was laughing at her, not with her. Ridiculous girl, but it's a good storyline and a strong hero. If you can look past Leonie, which is near impossible because she's practically on every page, you should finish reading it. $11.99 gone to waste for me since I couldn't read past chapter 8.
  • Awesome book, horrible e-book translation

    1
    By Kelthys
    This is, IMHO, the best book written by Ms. Heyer. Tragically, Sourcebooks' translation leaves so much to be desired that I find it impossible to recommend. Several important passages were so badly mangled by Sourcebooks' editing staff as to entirely destroy some of the most delightfully amusing moments (longtime readers of Ms. Heyer will be fully aware of her unparalleled gift for tongue-in-cheek humor).
  • Love this book

    5
    By Janeaustenaddict
    This was the first Georgette Heyer book I had ever read and I fell in love! I'm hooked on her books and this is one of my favorites!

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